News
08 Jul 2022

What you should know about the Waste Framework Directive review

Earlier this year, on 25 January 2022, the European Commission officially kicked-off the review of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) by opening a call for evidence for an Impact Assessment. The Commission’s proposal for the revision of the Waste Framework Directive, which was last reviewed in 2018, is expected to be published in Q2 2023.

This review will be more targeted than the one carried in 2018 and will address waste prevention, separate collection, waste oils and textiles. The review of the WFD also incorporates the Commission’s initiative to set up EU targets for food waste reduction.

On 24 May 2022, the European Commission opened a 12-weeks public consultation on the file, which will remain open for stakeholders’ feedback until 16 August 2022.

WHAT DID YOU MISS?

  • Studies support the WFD review: The WFD review process is supported by several studies led by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and a consortium of consultancy firms including, amongst others, Ramboll, Wood, Prognos.
  • The JRC is leading a study focused on separate waste collection, focusing on the bio-waste, paper, glass, metals and plastics (dry recyclables) streams.
  • In parallel, the consortium of consultants’ study to support the impact assessment is focusing on waste prevention, preparation for reuse and recycling. The waste streams covered by this study are waste electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and accumulators, bulky waste, household construction and demolition waste, hazardous household waste, wood packaging and ceramics packaging.
  • Waste oils and textiles will be addressed in a separate workstream and set of stakeholder workshops.

All these studies, led in parallel, will feed into the impact assessment of policy options for the revision of the Waste Framework Directive.

WHAT’S NEXT?

  • 13 September 2022: Second stakeholder of the study to support the impact assessment (preparation for re-use and recycling and waste prevention), focused on proposed policy options and impacts.
  • Q4 2022: Publication of the final JRC report on separate waste collection and end of the study.
  • Q2 2023: Expected publication of the Commission proposal for a review WFD.